I find that this winter, when I do a long run, like 10 miles or more, and my left hip gets irritated, the stretching I described earlier isn't helping much. But has helped, is a major dig-in with my thumbs to the psoas and to that big thick band that controls the adductors and flexors. The roller helps too, but if that muscle gets over-used, it can stay irritated for a long time. Spasm release seems to be what happens when I do that self-massage. It's not a cure-all, but it definitely helps. I know I talked about this in December, but it's remained true. Reading and hearing more about how essential it is to keep weight training in the mix especially when older. When you lose muscle mass and you're old, you tend not to be able to get it back. Keep it before it leaves, is the word. So I dusted off my Weider incline bench and am now using it for weights in the living room. Also doing regular pushups and striving to get in at least an extra one or two every time. I'm at 50 pushups now. Also, a continuing truth--- my level of mental happiness is most tightly correlated with how often and pain-free I can run. W/o running, I'm cranky! So, my goal is to set another record trail running this, my 71st year. 1,020 miles last year, and 1,070 is my 2021 all time record. Keep the hip healthy and it'll happen. I'm planning on the Death Valley TDRC trail running weekend in 3 weeks. Mission 5k race this weekend, Solvang Century, Chico Century, already signed up for Mammoth Gran Fondo and GraniteMan '24. And will look for locally put on triathlons like Sandman; I'm kinda sick and tired of corporate overpriced under-fun'd triathlons. Really sad to see the June Lake Tri sell out to the corporate greed. It was such a great race for so long. I've been doing some "RainRuns" in Fall Creek and Nicene Marks this winter. I love that visceral contact with Nature, the less "Civilized", the better I feel truly at home. Here's a shot from one on Jan 7.
